Agreement includes greater job security, wage increases, and subsidized transit pass. No concessions.

TORONTO, ON–On November 8, 2010, UNITE HERE Local 75 members at the Delta Chelsea voted to ratify a new collective agreement as proposed by the company on 7 AM Sunday morning. This victory comes after a 13-day strike and a lockout threat by the company.

The agreement, which was approved by 94% of the 510 workers, includes better protection and job security for union members, no layoffs due to subcontracting, and the inclusion of a TTC pass subsidy by the employer.

Monetary improvements include an 8.5% increase in wages as well as a 24% increase in funding for health benefits and a 36% increase to pension benefit contributions over the four life of the collective agreement. Management has also confirmed in writing that it does not intend to implement customer incentives for declining housekeeping services. The contract included no concessions.

Eula Marcos, a room attendant at the Delta Chelsea, reiterated: "We take this as confirmation that Delta’s so-called ‘green stay program’ will not return to our hotel. This is a job killer."

"It’s unfortunate that hospitality professionals were forced to strike in order to win stable jobs that allow us to provide good service to customers," said Feliz Serrano, who has worked a server at the Delta Chelsea for over 30 years. "With the labour dispute over, we’re going back to do just that. We hope that Delta has a newfound respect for the work we do. This settlement is good for everybody – the hotel, the guests and the community. We had hoped for a negotiated settlement, but we did what we felt we had to do."

Although picket lines have been lifted since yesterday morning, workers at the Delta Chelsea hotel are scheduled to return to work tomorrow morning.

Local 75 represents over 7,000 hotel, hospitality and gaming workers in the Greater Toronto Area.